Border Equine Dentistry & Bit Fitting

01/06/2026

It may only be the first day of winter, but the chill is truly here!
Please see below where you should be able to find me through June.
A reminder too that im based in Table Top, so if im travelling to an area and am passing theoyour town, chances are im happy to stop by on my travels.
Early July brings school holidays, ill be taking some valuable time to spend with my boys. Im also away for a little over 2 weeks in August. If your horses are due during this time, please think ahead and book them in.

If your location isnt mentioned, please contact me and ill see where we can fit you in.
DM me to book your horses in.

Dani 🐴🦷

26/05/2026

Recently i was scrolling through my photos for an informative post on wolf teeth (still to come) and came across these pics

Heres 3 photos of horses ive seen in the past - all of them ended up needing veterinary referral and more advanced treatment. The common thread? The owners had absolutely no idea there was a problem.

These weren’t neglected horses. They were loved, well cared for, and some even in regular work and all holding weight well.
But horses are incredibly good at hiding dental pain. By the time obvious signs show up, the issue is often already significant.

In each case, what started as a routine dental check turned into a recommendation for veterinary involvement because the problems were beyond what routine floating alone could safely address.

The important takeaway is this: horses don’t always “tell you” in obvious ways that their mouth hurts. Subtle changes in performance, chewing, weight, or attitude can be the only early warning signs. Sometimes there are no signs of the pain they are in.

Regular dental checks aren’t just maintenance, they’re early detection. Catching issues early can prevent pain, reduce the need for more invasive treatment, and avoid long-term damage

21/05/2026

Yesterday I removed a tooth from this 28-year-old Thoroughbred mare.

It’s a good reminder that our older horses still need regular dental checks.
As horses age, their teeth wear down, sharp and hollow areas appear. These horses are often overlooked, especially once they’re retired or no longer in full work.

Weight loss, dropping feed, slow eating, choke episodes, bad breath, or just “looking old” can actually be signs they’re struggling to eat comfortably.

Sadly, many oldies don’t get checked often enough because people assume it’s simply old age.

A dental can make a huge difference to their comfort, quality of life and maintaining weight in their older years.

18/05/2026

Winter is well and truly on its way
With that comes the realisation for many that their horses are quidding, dropping more food than usual or dropping weight faster than expected.
Its better to act early rather than playing the game of catch up.

School holidays are also approaching late June. Once again ill be taking full advantage of spending time with my boys while they still like to do things with mum. We’re also heading away for a bit over a week in August. So if your dentals are due over that period, please consider contacting me early to organise a suitable time.

We all know how much the rain is needed, but the wet weather and shorter days are making it so hard to get riding time in.

If your location isn’t mentioned- please send me a message to see if we can find a day that suits

Dani

16/05/2026

Another morning spent at Amber Cavanagh Equestrian Services this week treating Ambers horses, agistees, clients horses and horses coming up for sale.

Its always such a pleasure to head to Ambers and work with her horses.
If you’re looking for a breaker, trainer, clipping, sales prep or miles on your horse - get in touch with Amber.

Shes little enough to work the ponies, but has the skills and knowledge for the big strong horses too
(Pic of one of the ponies treated this week)

08/05/2026

Fiona Dearing is heading back up this way
Anyone asking for bit fitting and unfortunately being turned away by me - im happy to send you in this direction
Bit Right - Equine Bit Fitting

⭐️May Fittings Now Available⭐️

Bitting consult appointments are now available for May with some interstate road-trips listed! Both the trips to SA and NSW will attract a small surcharge and are subject to sufficient bookings to have them go ahead. Please help me get to you by sharing to local groups etc!

Why is professional bit fitting so important? The bit is one of your primary communication tools. If you have issues with leaning, behind the contact, tongue activity, head tossing, or you’re just feeling like the connection isn’t as good as you’d like this is your horse communicating they’re not as comfortable as they should be and they can’t ‘hear’ your aids clearly.

Bit selection isn’t about stronger or milder. It’s about matching design to anatomy, training level, rider influence and discipline demands to have the combination communicate as effectively and comfortably as possible.

*****Due to the current fuel crisis I require multiple bookings to travel to an area and reserve the right to reschedule to a mutually agreed time. I have not increased my prices as I'm aware we're all in the same boat but appreciate your understanding. *****

🐴 Service Areas
Listed locations include surrounding areas and towns en route to and from the Ballarat region. If your area isn’t mentioned, please get in touch — I regularly travel across Victoria, with minimum numbers required for extended trips.

🐴 What to Expect
Each consultation runs for approximately one hour and is conducted one-on-one.
For the most accurate assessment, horses are ideally ridden. However, I also offer: standing assessments and pre-starting fittings.
Following your consult, you’ll receive a comprehensive written report for your records.

🐴 Support Beyond the Fit
I take the guesswork out of sourcing. Once we determine the most suitable option, I am able to supply certain brands or I assist in locating your selected bit through a reputable retailer.

If you have questions, please don’t hesitate to ask. Please message the page for all bookings.

07/05/2026

Ive have a few spaces available tomorrow (Friday) Yackandandah - Barnawartha around lunch time

pm me to book ☺️

06/05/2026

A bit of a crappy one today
But something i need to put out there agan…

A friendly reminder regarding appointment cancellations and rescheduling.

As I travel between clients and schedule my day carefully, cancellations or changes made within 48 hours of your appointment will still incur a 50% cancellation fee.

I completely understand that illness, unexpected work commitments, and family emergencies can happen.
However, short-notice cancellations often leave me unable to fill your appointment spot, which can mean time spent travelling and waiting between bookings with lost income for the day.

I generally give times a week in advance, so the time is not a sudden surprise. I then confirm the day before as a reminder.

Providing me as much notice as possible if you do need to reschedule, allows me the best chance to offer your appointment to another client and keep my schedule running efficiently.

Thank you for your understanding and ongoing support.

Sorry about the grumble, but this is happening more and more frequently
As in 4 times this last 2 weeks! 🫠

04/05/2026

This was a horse I saw on recently
Check out that tooth!

That 306 tooth was seriously overgrown to the point it had cut into the opposing gum

This generally happens when the opposite tooth is missing, meaning they can’t wear down properly. This means discomfort, poor chewing, and knock-on issues through the whole mouth.

The tricky part? A lot of horses don’t show obvious signs until it’s already pretty advanced.

After getting this sorted, this horse is going to be a whole lot more comfortable
This horse was actually referred onto a vet for further treatment.

This is another reason why regular dental checks matter. It’s so much easier (and kinder) to keep on top of things than to fix something like this later

If your horse hasn’t had their teeth done in a while, or you’re not sure when they were last checked, send me a message to make an appointment